Category: Wildlife

Goldfinch

Biden Administration Denies SAF Petitions to Delist/Downlist Wolves

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January 7, 2025

Roadmap To Successfully Remove Wolves from the ESA Tossed Aside by FWS

Today, Jan. 7, the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation received “not-warranted” findings as a politically motivated farewell folly from the Biden administration on two Endangered Species Act petitions requesting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) delist gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes and downlist West Coast wolves to threatened.

The petitions serve as a blueprint for successfully delisting Western Great Lakes wolves and downlisting West Coast wolves in accordance with prior court decisions. The agency, however, in an unsurprising move to ignore a durable solution and good science, chose to wrongfully merge and deny the petitions as a whole to circumvent their own “may be warranted” finding on the petition to delist gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes.

“These denials couldn’t provide a clearer representation of what every day Americans have come to loathe from a federal government that plays politics instead of addressing their needs,” said Dr. Todd Adkins, Senior Vice President at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Our petition to delist Great Lakes wolves is bulletproof, and the agency recognizes that. Yet, the administration couldn’t stomach making the correct decision, so they used smoke and mirrors to carry on the illusion that gray wolves still need ESA protections.”
Read more

Wildlife

RMEF Helps Expand Idaho Wildlife Refuge, Benefits Elk, Mule Deer, Fish & Hundreds of Bird Species

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MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation collaborated with a private landowner and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to acquire and convey 2,496 acres of wildlife and riparian habitat to expand the Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southeast Idaho.

USFWS documented almost 250 species of birds on the high elevation bullrush marsh, of which about 100 species are known to nest there. It is also home to one of the largest breeding concentrations of sandhill cranes in North America.

“This speaks volumes to what RMEF is all about. Our mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage,” said RMEF Chief Conservation Officer Blake Henning. “The refuge with this newly added waterfront parcel helps so many species of ‘other wildlife,’ like birds, small mammals and fish, but it also serves as summer range and critical birthing grounds for elk and mule deer.” Read more

Wildlife

Grizzly Bears to Remain Protected

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GW: What good are recovery goals?

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) denied two petitions from Montana and Wyoming to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems. This denial comes a day after the USFWS denied Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s petitions to delist wolves in the Western Great Lakes.

Like the gray wolf, the grizzly bear is no stranger to Endangered Species Act (ESA) litigation. Grizzlies in the lower-48 states were first protected under the ESA in 1975. They were subsequently divided into several Distinct Population Segments. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem bears, which exist in portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, were given a recovery population goal of 500. The current estimated population is around 1,000. These bears were delisted under the George W. Bush administration in 2007. That delisting was overturned by the courts. They were delisted again in 2017, under a rulemaking that spanned the Obama and Trump administrations. That was again overturned by the courts in 2020.

The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem bears exist in northern Montana. Their recovery goal is a population of at least 800 bears. Their population is currently estimated to be over 1,100. Read more

Wildlife

Influenza Suspected in Snow Goose Mortalities

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Avian influenza (AI) is suspected to have caused the deaths of about 200 snow geese found Monday in the greater Allentown area.

Dead birds were recovered from two sites, one in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and another in Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. Preliminary in-state testing indicated the presence of highly pathogenic AI (HPAI). While results are yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at their National Veterinary Services Laboratories, HPAI is presumed to be the cause of these mortality events. The situation is ongoing as sick wild birds were also observed at both locations. Read more

Wildlife

Wild Sheep Foundation: EXPLORE Act Becomes Law

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EXPLORE Act Passes Senate, Landmark Legislation to Enhance Public Lands Access for Sportsmen and Women

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) celebrates the United States Senate’s passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, sending the most comprehensive public lands package since 2019 to the President’s desk. This bipartisan legislation marks a pivotal moment for outdoor recreation and public lands access, advancing several critical priorities of the sporting community.

“The passage of the EXPLORE Act underscores the power of collaboration in advancing access to America’s public lands,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “From streamlining permitting for small film crews to enhancing recreational shooting opportunities, this bill delivers practical solutions to the challenges faced by federal land managers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It reflects a shared commitment to conserving and promoting our outdoor heritage.”

Key provisions of the EXPLORE Act include: Read more

Wildlife

More than $106,000 awarded across 28 Michigan communities

Jan. 2, 2025

Contact Kerry Gray (Michigan DNR), 734-691-1806 or Joelle Kruczek (DTE),

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, DTE Energy Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan today announced the 28 communities and organizations across the state that will receive a portion of $106,680 in grant funding to expand tree coverage.

This initiative is part of the trio’s 28-year collaboration. Through these grants, the organizations aim to have 1,377 trees planted along streets, in parks and in various public spaces in 2025.

“Trees provide essential benefits to our communities, from cooling neighborhoods to improving air quality and supporting biodiversity. This program helps to expand tree canopy while ensuring new trees are properly located to avoid utility conflicts and support long term-growth and sustainability,” said Kerry Gray, DNR Urban and Community Forestry grants specialist.

The statewide program is funded by the DTE Foundation and administered jointly by the DNR and ReLeaf Michigan to provide grant awards and tree-planting project assistance.

“Expanding and safeguarding Michigan’s tree population is a priority for the DTE Foundation, and this work cannot be done without partners like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and ReLeaf Michigan,” said Rodney Cole, foundation president. “By collaborating with these dedicated organizations, we can ensure that our efforts to enhance and protect Michigan’s natural beauty will have a lasting impact on our communities and the environment for years to come.”

Open full grantees list ?

The program seeks to support and engage communities, schools, nonprofits and other organizations in environmental stewardship, neighborhood beautification and the proper planting of trees away from utility infrastructure.

Project proposals are solicited annually from eligible partners around the state. The next opportunity to apply is summer 2025. Read more

Wildlife

USFWS Withdraws Proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, And Environmental Health Rule

In a major win for sportsmen, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially withdrawn its proposed Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Rule (“BIDEH Rule”) that would have had sweeping impacts on National Wildlife Refuge management.

The Biden administration introduced the proposed BIDEH Rule in February 2024. To say the BIDEH Rule would have harmed sportsmen is an understatement. The rule plainly “prohibit[ed] predator control unless it is determined necessary to meet statutory requirements, fulfill refuge purposes, and ensure biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health.”

With this language, the service would only be able to authorize the taking of a predator if “all other feasible methods have been fully evaluated and such control is considered the only practical means of addressing a specific, significant conservation concern and ensuring biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health.”

Today, the Sportsmen’s Alliance is proud to announce the withdrawal of the rule and can rejoice that the service thought better of its major overstep and withdrew the rule.

“We are glad that the service agreed with our comments and withdrew the proposed BIDEH Rule,” said Michael Jean, Litigation Counsel for Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “Sportsmen’s dollars have always been the primary source of funding for the refuge system, and the system was designed to increase recreational opportunities for families, including hunting and fishing. Any action that severely limits those opportunities like the BIDEH Rule did is inconsistent with the refuge system’s purposes and congressional mandates.”

Hunting, Wildlife

Christmas trees for fish habitat not as smart as many believe

Dec. 23, 2024

Learn more about what to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays

Each year, Michiganders purchase millions of live Christmas trees. When the holidays are over though, many people wonder if there are beneficial uses for their trees rather than sending them to a landfill. The answer is yes — there are many ways that your old Christmas trees can keep on giving as habitat, but it’s important to think carefully about the best way to do so.

Christmas trees for fish?

People often ask the Michigan Department of Natural Resources whether their Christmas trees would make good habitat for fish. This is a great question, as many of Michigan’s lakes once had woody habitat, such as a fallen tree, every 5 to 50 feet! This woody habitat is important for fish, turtles, frogs, herons and other animals, because it provides refuge from predators and opportunities to bask in the sun, reduces wave energy that erodes shorelines and encourages growth of aquatic plants. Harder-wood trees with an open branch structure provide high-quality habitat.

However, Christmas trees are classified as softwoods, and are typically species such as balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. These softwoods break down relatively quickly in aquatic environments. The dense branches on Christmas trees that are perfect for holding ornaments are often too dense for many fish to use as habitat.

Additionally, pesticides applied to Christmas trees, leftover decorations and anchors used to sink trees may introduce unwanted materials into our waters. So, if you’re thinking about sinking that tree in your favorite lake for fish habitat, we urge you to consider an alternative. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

Defeat the Cold with Fish Monkey

Ice fishing is one of the world’s truly extreme sports. It’s great fun and there is plenty of action, not to mention the good times and camaraderie shared by those who participate in this winter activity. In order to be safe and successful you need the right gear, and it starts with a good pair of gloves.

Most anglers just grab a pair of heavy insulated work gloves, but fishing requires more. You need a glove that’s not only waterproof but also one that has the dexterity to allow you to manipulate small rods and reels easily. One that can go from driving a snow machine or side by side to drilling an auger to baiting tiny hooks. Meet the cold-weather glove lineup from Fish Monkey.

First up is the Stealth Sherpa Dry-Tec Heavyweight Gloves and Mittens. These are 100 percent wind- and waterproof, but even more important, they are constructed with a durable water repellent finish. Read more

Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife
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